A native of Southerland, NE, he was the son of the late Harold Mars and Dorothy Dietz Duval. Mr. Mars was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U. S. Army, retired Systems Program Analyst and a member of the Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife Gerda Leistner Mars of Taft, son Robert James Oliver of Gulf Shores, AL, daughter Gerda Ann Monroe of Dallas, TX, brother Raymond H. (Sue) Mars of Brandon, MS, sister Judy (Dennis) Stunkel of Broken Bow, NE, sister-in-law Loretta Mars of St. Augustine, FL wife of his brother Neal Mars, who preceded him in death, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation with the Mars family will be Thursday evening 5-8 PM at Higgins Funeral Home.

Dear Gerda, Ann and Robert,
My thoughts and sympathy are with you at this sad time. Don was a remarkable person and a wonderful man . I will always remember the short times I got to visit with him and the hilarious stories he shared with me. He will be greatly missed.
Please convey my regards and best wishes to your family.
Love,
Carmen & Jimmy Clark

I was very saddened to hear about Mr. Don’s passing, and grateful to have the memory of dinner at Cafe Grazie. There is nothing that can be put into words to make this time easier for you and your family but my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I know that he was very well loved and very well respected.

Thanks for all the wonderful memories we shared in Germany you both were very special to us. We still share stories with friends about our travels/card games together. We sincerely extend our sympathy to you and the “kids”.

Gerda, we are sorry to learn of Don’s passing. We fondly remember the great times we had with you and Don. He was fun to be around even though his dry humor made it difficult to tell if he was having fun, but just for a minute. Our prayers are with you and the children. Love, David & Deb

I’m so very sorry and sad at the unexpected loss of Don this week.He was the best Father-n-law anyone could ask for.Full of humor and ready to get in trouble with me at the drop of a hat.I swear he has left me with a million funny stories and for that I am truely grateful.He was the only man in my life that I could use his name and the word father in the same sentense and I couldn’t have had a better one.He will always be the “Pa” in the “MA&PA” to me.I am truely blessed to have known him.

Gerda, My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Don was one of the small group who dragged this new employee out of his cubicle and made him take a coffe break. He also shared your wonderful raspberry cake and German cookies with his grateful collegues. It was interesting when he pulled my guide dog back from the tray and put his nose right in the pie rack where Petey promptly helped himself. Don is sorely missed.

Gerda and family, very sorry to hear of your loss.
I worked with Don for many years in the IT-D area for AAFES. Don was always smiling and ready to share a funny story. He was also very proud to be the bearer of your wonderful delicacies you would prepare for the IT-D parties & holiday celebrations we would all share at work.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours at this time. May Peace be yours at this time of sadness.

I worked with Don for a few years when he was helping the Marketing Department for AAFES. Don was always sharing a funny story. We worked on the Desert Storm project. Getting laptops to the troops for ordering from over there. It was so great working with him on that project.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. May you have Peace at this sad time.

I worked with/for Don at AAFES and he was the best boss and co-worker that I had in my AAFES career. He was a good friend and a wonderful person. I have fond memories of our time together. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and family.

Gerda, Sandra and I are so very saddened to learn of Don’s passing. We have many wonderful memories of our shared adventures in Germany and Austria. We send our heartfelt condolences to you and your family and will keep you, Robert, and Ann in our thoughts and prayers.

I have fond memories of working with Tom for many years.
His contributions to AAFES information systems development helped keep AAFES serving its customers in the most cost efficient manner. He will be missed by many people.